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Finding Common Ground

Finding Common Ground

The recent primary elections gave Democratic candidates a chance to sharpen their skills, define their platforms and improve their voter engagement skills. Voters had an opportunity to meet the candidates and learn where they stood on important issues. We appreciate the time, energy and money all the candidates invested in their run for office. We thank them for stepping forward.

As we now turn our attention to the upcoming general election, it’s vital that we support all the Democratic primary winners in their election runs. There has never been a more important time to come together. A united front is key to winning as many local, county, state and federal elections as possible.

The Democratic Party is a “big tent” – home to a diverse group of individuals with a variety of views and concerns. It welcomes open debate and discussions. However, we can’t let our differences be used as a wedge by the Republican Party to drive us apart. Instead, it’s time to find the common ground we share as Democrats and to focus on our shared goals.

With a review of the California Democratic Platform and the National Democratic Platform, we can find many issues that united us: protecting workers rights, ending systematic racism, accessing affordable health care, combating sexual harassment, protecting voter rights, and promoting democracy around the world – just to name a few.

In addition to uniting us, discussions about these shared goals can energize and encourage individuals who didn’t vote in 2016 to get to the polls in 2018. When talking to a union member, you can discuss how Democrats have always supported a worker’s right to organize and join unions. Discuss how the Democratic Party believes Medicare and Social Security represent an unbreakable commitment to American workers when talking with someone who is retired or nearing retirement. A young person may be encouraged to vote when they learn the Democratic Party wants college to be affordable for every American. It is estimated that only 58% of eligible voters cast a ballot in the 2016 election. That means around 100 million individuals didn’t show up. We may be able to bring some of those individuals into our “big tent” through discussions of where the Democratic Party stands on issues that are important to them.

The best way to advance our shared Democratic values is through the election of Democratic candidates. By focusing on our shared goals, pulling more voters into our big tent and presenting a united front, we can make a blue wave of election wins a reality.